Hello everyone,
I want to securely mount some Malm shelves from IKEA on the wall in my apartment. Since these are relatively large and heavy shelves, the stability of the installation is especially important to me. I have a drywall with wood studs behind it. I am unsure which anchors to use and how to ensure the shelf will not eventually pull away from the wall.
Could you please explain step by step how to best install the shelves? Which screws and anchors are recommended, especially for drywall? Is there anything special to consider regarding alignment and load distribution?
I look forward to your tips and experiences!
I want to securely mount some Malm shelves from IKEA on the wall in my apartment. Since these are relatively large and heavy shelves, the stability of the installation is especially important to me. I have a drywall with wood studs behind it. I am unsure which anchors to use and how to ensure the shelf will not eventually pull away from the wall.
Could you please explain step by step how to best install the shelves? Which screws and anchors are recommended, especially for drywall? Is there anything special to consider regarding alignment and load distribution?
I look forward to your tips and experiences!
B
barEsperan12 Feb 2019 09:18Hello,
for drywall with wooden studs, it is best to screw directly into the studs. Use wood screws with appropriate anchors if necessary. If not screwing directly into the stud, use special drywall cavity anchors.
for drywall with wooden studs, it is best to screw directly into the studs. Use wood screws with appropriate anchors if necessary. If not screwing directly into the stud, use special drywall cavity anchors.
barEsperan schrieb:
With drywall on wood studs, it's best to screw directly into the studs.Exactly, that’s the most secure method! A tip: carefully mark where the studs are located beforehand. A simple stud finder helps with this. Use screws that are at least 6 cm long (2.4 inches) to ensure a strong hold.
And don’t worry—if you measure everything properly, the shelf will be very stable. Good luck! 🙂
S
sarGabriel12 Feb 2019 09:30If you don’t hit a wooden stud, you should use cavity anchors specifically designed for drywall. These expand behind the wall and provide good support.
Otherwise, metal toggle anchors are also an option if you really need to fasten something into the drywall panel.
Otherwise, metal toggle anchors are also an option if you really need to fasten something into the drywall panel.
JORDON schrieb:
Mark the exact location of the studs beforehand. A simple wire detector can help with that.Thanks, using a wire detector is a good idea. Unfortunately, I only have a basic stud finder that isn’t always very accurate. How long can the wood screws be at most without pushing through the material too much? And how many screws should I use per shelf to distribute the load optimally? The shelves are about 160 cm (63 inches) wide and should hold around 25-30 kg (55-66 lbs).
Hello keomo,
I’m happy to help. The length of the screws should be chosen so that they penetrate at least 4-5 cm (1.5-2 inches) into the wooden stud, preferably even more. Given your wall thickness, I recommend using screws at least 6 cm (2.5 inches) long when driving them into the studs to ensure a secure hold.
The weight of 25-30 kg (55-66 lbs) per shelf should not be underestimated, so I suggest using at least 3 mounting points per shelf—for example, one screw in a stud on the left, one in the middle, and one on the right.
If you plan to stack several shelves vertically, make sure the bottom row carries the main load and the upper shelves are only supported to avoid excessive stress on the wall.
One more tip: before drilling, you can gently check with a small nail to confirm you are actually hitting a stud.
I’m happy to help. The length of the screws should be chosen so that they penetrate at least 4-5 cm (1.5-2 inches) into the wooden stud, preferably even more. Given your wall thickness, I recommend using screws at least 6 cm (2.5 inches) long when driving them into the studs to ensure a secure hold.
The weight of 25-30 kg (55-66 lbs) per shelf should not be underestimated, so I suggest using at least 3 mounting points per shelf—for example, one screw in a stud on the left, one in the middle, and one on the right.
If you plan to stack several shelves vertically, make sure the bottom row carries the main load and the upper shelves are only supported to avoid excessive stress on the wall.
One more tip: before drilling, you can gently check with a small nail to confirm you are actually hitting a stud.
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